Seraikela town is the district headquarters of Saraikela Kharsawan district. The district is well-known for Seraikela Chhau, one of the three distinctive styles of the chhau dance. This district was carved out from West Singhbhum district in 2001.

It lies in the south chotanagpur division with the Head Quarters at Saraikela.It is divided in 23 administrative blocks inhabited by approx 7 lakhs people. The tribals constitute more than 36.82% of this district's population.Tribes predominantly found in this district are Santhals, Oraons, Mundas, Ho and Kharias. The overall Literacy rate is 38.9%.Male Literacy stands at 54.7% and female literacy was recorded as 22.4%.

This is a formerly the capital of the princely state during the reign of Rajas, today the town of Seraikela is the district headquarters situated on the banks of Kharki River and spread over an area of 2,724 sq. km the place is thickly populated by the tribal people such as ho, Santhaland Oraon. This region is blessed with nature’s minerals such as copper, iron-ore, asbestos and limestone proclaims great exposure to the industrial values here, the town has one of the biggest Industrial estate in the whole of Asian continent namely Adityapur Industrial Area. Other than industrial growth this region people‘s main occupation is relied on agriculture.
Seraikela is a small town and sleepy hamlet on the bank of the river Kharkai whose ripples inspire song and the turbulent waves enthuse dance in the hearts of the artists and art lovers of this place.

The Govt. Chhau dance Centre Seraikela was established by the state Govt. in the year 1960/61 for preservation, propagation and development of the celebrated art in all its beauty and fragrance.

The Centre, since its inception has been instrumental in popularizing the Chhau dance all over the national and international art areas. The Centre has participated in a number of reputed national and international cultural events such as festival of India, France, and U.S.S.R, JAPAN and through cultural exchange program in South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other European and Asian countries. The Centre participate in so many cultural events seminar, workshop, demonstration / lecture all over the state/U.T. The Centre has successfully trained about 500 students.

Chhau dance so long a male bastion was thrown open to women artists. Now some girls of schools and college are under going training in the Centre. Not only that the out States students. Students from Calcutta, Delhi also joined this Centre and learnt Chhau dance. Also the programmer students from Ireland, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan took training in this Centre.

The Centre has a small auditorium and hostel for students. The scheduled tribe and scheduled caste students of Seraikela? Kharsawan district and other districts have joined the Centre who apart from their Tribal dance are picking up fast the Chhau style. The Centre also been set up the traditional art of mask-making training more than 100 students in and outside who are undergoing regular training at Centre for Chhau dance, music and mask-making.

Every year in the month of April (Chaitra) Basant Utsav (Spring festival) organised by the Centre with the help of district administration this year 2002.The Magha festival organised by the district administration is widely popular all over the country.
The Centre is running under the department of Art culture, sports and youth affairs, Govt. of Jharkhand under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner, Seraikela Kharswan its Ex-officio President and S.D.O. Seraikela as Ex-officio secretary. All activities of art culture, administration of the Centre manned by the Director to impart training to the aspiring artists assisted by his staffs.

History

Members of the erstwhile royal family of Seraikella, the Singh Deo family (patrons of the Chau dance), divide their time between The Palace, Seraikella-833219; a 300 year old heritage palace and historical landmark and their residences in Orissa, West Bengal and abroad. The last ruler of the Seraikella princely state was HH Raja Aditya Pratap Singh Deo (son of HH Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh Deo) and notables of the era include his sons Tikayet Sahib Nrupendra Narayan Singh Deo, HH Maharaja Sir Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo(given in adoption to Patna-Bolangir state, former Chief Minister of Orissa), Patayet Sahib Maharajkumar Bhoopendra Narayan Singh Deo(leading regional politician who supported the popular tribal anti-merger movement with Bihar) and Rajkumar Sudhendra Narayan Singh Deo(Param-Guru of Chau), a Padma Shree awardee.
The Singh Deo royal family remains active in public life(political, cultural and religious)and act as guardians to the Ma Paudi temple located within the Royal residence, host the annual Chau Festival at the Seraikella Royal Palace and retain a hold on the region's real-estate and business. Despite their loss of formal title and privileges, they enjoy public support in the area(comprising the former Seraikella state). Notable members of the royal family who remain active in the public eye include Rajkumar Pratap Aditya Singh Deo, Rajkumar Juga Bhanu Singh Deo,Maharajkumar Jairaj Singh Deo and Rajkumar Rajvikram Singh Deo.

Palna Dam - This region is encircled with tourist highlights of picnic spot around, this is located near the Chandil and this dam is built across the Subarnarekha River, near to this location you have Subarnarekha dam and the karkatta dam as the tourist attraction.

How to get there
Roadways and Railways are well connected to the other spots of the country, the nearest airport is Ranchi.